Neshaminy football’s Hunter Kelly to walk on at Penn State

LANGHORNE – Neshaminy offensive lineman Hunter Kelly recently announced his intention to play football at Penn State. The 6-foot-2, 280-pound prospect visited the University Park campus over the weekend and announced Monday, Feb. 1 that the Nittany Lions have offered him status as a preferred walk-on.

According to The Centre Daily Times, that means Kelly has a guaranteed spot on the team, unlike regular walk-ons, but has not been offered a scholarship.

After his announcement, via Twitter, Kelly thanked offensive line coach Matt Limegrover and D-line coach Sean Spencer as well as head coach James Franklin, a 1990 graduate of Neshaminy.

“I would like to thank Coach Limegrover, Coach Spencer, Coach Franklin and the rest of the Penn State staff for offering me this incredible opportunity to play for a team I grew up loving.”

“I plan on working harder than anyone in the classroom, the weight room and the football field,” he relayed on Twitter.

“A future thanks goes out to the people who think I can’t make it and doubt me; you will all make me better,” he added. “It’ll be a long journey, but I can’t wait to take it with this Penn State family.”

Last season, Kelly earned First Team All-Suburban One National Conference honors as an offensive tackle, helping the Redskins to a 9-4 record and a berth in the District 1-AAAA semifinals just one year after the team finished 4-6 and outside the D-1 playoff field.

One of four captains for Neshaminy, Kelly was a Pennsylvania Football News Honorable Mention all-state selection as a senior and earned fourth team all-Southeastern Pennsylvania honors.

The Times reports that Penn State sees Kelly as a center at the next level and that he has already been accepted at Penn State, Main Campus.

NOTES: Kelly was one of only a few players left over from the squad that captured the 2013 District 1 championship with a 42-7 triumph over North Penn.